A photograph of a portrait of Robert Carrick of Braco (1737-1821). The identity of the painter is unknown.
Usually known as Robin, Carrick entered the world of banking in 1752 with Dunlop, Houston & Co, proprietors of the famous Ship Bank. By 1775 he had become manager and partner the company, which was renamed Moores, Carrick & Co and subsequently Carrick, Brown & Co. Carrick had been in partnership with John Brown since 1761 in a muslin manufacturing business and they invested heavily in land and property in the Glasgow area. Carrick was also a partner in Henry, Hardie & Co, wholesale drapers. According to the historian Peter McKenzie, Carrick amassed a vast fortune of around £1 million during his life, but was a notorious miser who died "a grim old bachelor without leaving one plack or penny to any of the charitable institutions of the city..."
Carrick was a bailie in 1796 and Dean of Guild in 1802-1803. Carrick Street (off Broomielaw) was named for him in 1800.
Reference: Mitchell Library GC f941.435 OLD
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
bank managers, bankers, banking, banks, Carrick, Brown & Co, Deans of Guild, Dunlop, Houston & Co, Glasgow Bank, Henry, Hardie & Co, misers, Moores, Carrick & Co, muslin manufacturers, portraits, property speculators, Ship Bank, textiles manufacturers, wholesale drapers